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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Not as Grand: Hillcats Win 12-10

May 31, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA (May 31, 2011)- Just a day removed from a walk-off grand slam from Dan Butler, the Salem Sox experienced a cruel twist of fate Tuesday night, as Gerry Rodriguez' two-out grand slam in the top of the eighth capped a six-run frame for Lynchburg, giving the Hillcats a 12-10 victory over the Sox at LewisGale Field. The loss was Salem's first of the season to Lynchburg after winning the first seven meetings.

The decisive eighth inning started innocently enough as the Sox entered leading 10-6 and Jeremiah Bayer retired two of the first three batters, but was pulled after issuing a two-out walk to Phil Gosselin. Anatanaer Batista entered with runners on first and second and yielded an RBI single to Adam Milligan to cut the lead to three. Batista then issued back-to-back walks to Joey Terdoslavich and Barrett Kleinknecht, the second of which forced in a run. With the bases loaded, Rodriguez stepped to the plate and smashed a towering shot down the left field line that crept around the foul pole to give Lynchburg its first lead of the game at 12-10. Four of the runs in the inning were charged to Batista, whose ERA leapt from 0.94 to 2.10 as a result.

The comeback marked the third multi-run deficit the Hillcats erased in the game, as Lynchburg was constantly playing catch-up to the Sox, who came out firing on all cylinders. Salem scored 10 runs on 15 hits in the first five innings, but mustered absolutely nothing over the final four frames, save for a two-out walk in the ninth.

Salem scored two runs in the first and another four in the second off Lynchburg starter Matt Crim. Reynaldo Rodriguez clocked a two-out RBI double in the first and scampered home on a wild pitch to give Salem an early 2-0 lead.

Lynchburg would tie the score in the top of the second on an RBI triple and an error, but the Sox responded immediately. The first four batters in the bottom of the second notched base hits, capped off by Derrick Gibson's bases-clearing double to put Salem up 5-2. Peter Hissey then brought home Gibson with a sac fly to push the lead to four.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Salem starter Pete Ruiz ran into trouble in the fourth. After retiring the first batter, Ruiz walked consecuitve hitters and was then roughed up with back-to-back doubles from Andrelton Simmons and Gosselin. Simmons' two-bagger drove in one, while Gosselin brought home two to cut the deficit to one and knock Ruiz out of the game. Bayer entered and yielded a double to Terdoslavich, scoring Gosselin to tie the game at six.

The Sox surged back ahead an inning later, again on four straight hits to start the frame. Matt Spring's double scored one and Michael Almanzar followed up with a three-run blast to left-center to give the Sox their four-run advantage back. Almanzar's dinger was his second of the season, and first since April 24.

The lead could not be held though, as Bayer and Batista gave up six runs to the Hillcats in the eighth and the Sox could not mount a final comeback.

Eight of the nine Salem batters recorded hits in the contest, with Spring and Almanzar leading the way with three hits apiece. Almanzar and Gibson drove in three each to lead the Sox.

After going a league-best 16-5 in April, the Sox went 9-20 in May, a circuitous route to an even 25-25 record through 50 games. With 20 games left in the half, Salem sits 5.5 games behind first place Myrtle Beach and a game below second place Kinston.

The Sox and Hillcats go at it again Wednesday at 7:05. Junichi Tazawa will make his third Major League rehab start for Salem against Lynchburg's Dan Jurik. The game will mark the last home contest for Salem in the first half, as the Sox will then embark on a 19-game, 18-day odyssey prior to the All-Star break.

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